Is this a Navaja knife?

ariel · 20th July 2019, 01:06 PM

Yes, it is a Navaja, most likely made in France ( Thiers was the gorilla of stamping them in huge quantities). This is described in a book by Denis Cherevichnik about the history of knife fights around the world. A splendid book published regretfully only in Russian. It reads like a “ Captain Blood Odyssey” but with impeccable historical analysis and background and a ton of references. If you are interested, I can send you a link to the publisher.

Have you found it in Uzbekistan, of all places?????

Well, if so, one could fantasize that it was brought there by one of the Soviet
“ volunteers” fighting in Spain on the Republican side. The very first pic shows a hammer and a sickle. Spain was a testing ground for both German and Soviet forces in preparation for WW2. Kind of like Syria these day.

fernando · 20th July 2019, 02:55 PM

S we would have a French couteau à ressort, exported to Spain tagged as navaja, in such a peculiar disguise, bought by a товарищ who then engraved it with an hammer & sickle, before being reallocated to Uzbekistan ...
Don't tell me Ariel; i know i am a schmuck

.

ALEX · 20th July 2019, 09:55 PM

Thanks to all for information and an interesting discussion.

Ariel, I did not even notice the 'hammer and sickle' symbol. The knife was found in Uzbekistan indeed, so the historical references you provided could well be a case.

Fernando, I also thought of the blade as being older, based on the marks is does look 18thC, however, even though the horn slabs show some age and insect damage, they do not look as old as the blade to me.

fernando · 21st July 2019, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALEX

...Ariel, I did not even notice the 'hammer and sickle' symbol. The knife was found in Uzbekistan indeed, so the historical references you provided could well be a case...

Here i bow down to Ariel's knowledge

.

.

20th July 2019, 02:55 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Just kidding ... S we would have a French couteau à ressort, exported to Spain tagged as navaja, in such a peculiar disguise, bought by a товарищ who then engraved it with an hammer & sickle, before being reallocated to Uzbekistan ... Don't tell me Ariel; i know i am a schmuck .

20th July 2019, 01:06 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Yes, it is a Navaja, most likely made in France ( Thiers was the gorilla of stamping them in huge quantities). This is described in a book by Denis Cherevichnik about the history of knife fights around the world. A splendid book published regretfully only in Russian. It reads like a “ Captain Blood Odyssey” but with impeccable historical analysis and background and a ton of references. If you are interested, I can send you a link to the publisher. Have you found it in Uzbekistan, of all places????? Well, if so, one could fantasize that it was brought there by one of the Soviet “ volunteers” fighting in Spain on the Republican side. The very first pic shows a hammer and a sickle. Spain was a testing ground for both German and Soviet forces in preparation for WW2. Kind of like Syria these day.

20th July 2019, 09:55 PM	#3
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Thanks to all for information and an interesting discussion. Ariel, I did not even notice the 'hammer and sickle' symbol. The knife was found in Uzbekistan indeed, so the historical references you provided could well be a case. Fernando, I also thought of the blade as being older, based on the marks is does look 18thC, however, even though the horn slabs show some age and insect damage, they do not look as old as the blade to me.